HEADQUARTERS
486TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H) Period: 9 February 1944·to 29 February 1944 For the Officers and the Enlisted men of the 486th Bombardment Group (H) the month of February 1944, brought almost to final successful completion a task began last: September. The original nucleus of the Group, drawn from the anti-submarine Command in Miami, Florida, and augmented by officers and men sent into the groups while it was undergoing preliminary training at Tucson, had long ceased to operate as a new and therefore somewhat disorganized Air Corp. Unit. Preliminary training Tucson, special training for the key personnel at the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics at Orlando, Florida, and the relatively short but highly intensive three phases of training which the four squadrons of the Group had undergone, at Davis-Monthan Field Tucson, Ariz., had made each squadron of the Group an efficient unit, The efficiency of each Squadron coupled with close inter- squadron, co-operation was reflected in every phase of activity as the Big Day drew nearer -- the date that the 486 Group would be required to prove itself under this stiffest test of all -- Combat. From a handful of officers and men, the Group had swollen to 396 officers, 1673 enlisted men including 75 combat crews and operating 46 airplanes by February 1,1944. On the 29~h of the same month, overages had been adjusted and vacancies filled and the Group morning reports were showing 380 officers, 1639 enlisted men, including 70, combat crews flying 77 airplanes. February was a month of intensive second and third phase training with 3370 hours being flown by the crews. The month was highlighted by to inspections. Colonel David Ellenger of the Inspector Generals Department, Washington, D. C. Headed an inspection party which carried out an inspection February 13,1944. Colonel R. L. Easton and party from the Office of the Field Inspector, Santa Anna, California, gave the Grouped its P.O.M, inspection. Careful clothing inspections were also carried out by each squadron with all personnel being instructed and checked out to clothing, which they would need. The personal affairs of the men--wills, powers of attorney, pay cards, immunization records, etc., which have received careful attention in each orderly room since the group arrived at Tucson, again came in for a last careful check. A processing detail was formed in each squadron processed as a unit. This processing provided a last close check to assure unit commanding officers that the personnel records and affairs of all the members of their command were in good shape. The group, despite the hundreds of hours flown and training, had flawless safety record until February 18 when planes collided in mid air, claiming 17 lives. This History attempts only to report the incident and the names of the casualties and makes no effort to determine the cause since that is the responsibility of a duly appointed Board of Officers. On the same day, the #2 engine of the plane piloted by Captain Roper caught fire in mid-the air but was landed without loss of life or serious injury. Captain Roper and crew are members of the 833rd Squadron while the two ships, which collided were carrying members of the 835th Squadron. The list of casualties of crewmembers follows: Crew #69, 835th Squadron Lt. Block, Albert J. Jr. 0-801419 Copyright © 1998-2024, 486th Bomb Group Association. |